[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-immortal-food":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-immortal-food-lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-45":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Immortal Food",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2313168,4524,"Chapter 45: Chapter Forty-Five: The Third Kill","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-45",45,"\u003Cp>Zhang Siche halted his words here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, without prompting, Pei Ye was about to rise, but Zhang Siche pressed a hand on his shoulder and smiled: “It’s me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye watched his tall back vanish from the cave; only six remained inside—just enough for two more rounds, then the final match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In total, everyone had six fights left; if things moved fast, it would take barely half an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke; Pei Ye leaned against the wall and called to the black chi in his abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you there? How’s it going on your end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qiongqi is heading toward you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You forgot the seed is on it? It must be returning to complete the Candle World Sect’s ritual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, then you’re safe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m coming too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah?” Pei Ye sat upright. “Why are you deliberately walking into death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you ask me to save you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…” Pei Ye felt moved. “You didn’t have to risk your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our fates are bound together. If the Candle World Sect’s scheme succeeds, I won’t survive either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you plan to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll act as the situation demands—but…” The black chi hesitated. For the first time, Pei Ye detected a hint of embarrassment in its tone. “I ran too far away before. I’m not sure I’ll make it in time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, I don’t know the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, take your time. If you find me dead on the way, turn right around.” Pei Ye grumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having finished speaking, Zhang Siche had already returned victorious, stepping into the cave. He shook the blood from his hands—this battle, like all others, had been effortless for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your turn now,” he smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-robed figure’s voice echoed simultaneously: “Next pair: [Twenty-Four], [Twenty-Eight].”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye rose and stepped out of the cave. Night had deepened to its darkest hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent this time was an old man—the very father who had watched him when he first entered the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking the same path again, the purple-robed corpse had finally been removed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at the familiar arena, the two entered the Flame Arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s muscles were not well-developed; he had been injured in his first match. To reach this stage, he must either possess extraordinary martial skill or an exceptionally superior Light Cocoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye cautiously assumed a fighting stance. If his previous two foes had been a bear and a spider, this one was an old wolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the arena’s frenzied stimulation, both men maintained extraordinary patience, studying each other—neither dared strike first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Pei Ye broke the stalemate, crossing the arena with a straight punch aimed at the old man’s grim face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man extended his arm, redirecting the force, then jabbed with two fingers toward Pei Ye’s elbow crease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man was not one who relied on Qi in battle. He had already endured decades of hardship before his Dantian Seed even sprouted, mastering the intricacies of martial combat among those without Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was precisely Pei Ye’s strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye dropped low, slipping like an eel beneath the old man’s ribs, then kicked hard at his shin. The old man twisted his left foot, raised his right to evade, and instead of landing, he kicked Pei Ye’s supporting foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments, their legs exchanged over a dozen rapid strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye’s advantages: youth, quick reflexes, raw strength. The old man’s: experience, traps within every move, thinking three steps ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For over a hundred exchanges—fists, kicks, palms, fingers—they traded blows, evenly matched, neither gaining clear ascendancy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since his Dantian Seed shattered, Pei Ye had not fought such a satisfying, unrestrained brawl. Though the Qunshou Talisman now clung to his body, his pride forbade its use—he would defeat this man with bare fists and feet alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, as their exchanges multiplied, the tide began to turn in Pei Ye’s favor—not due to stamina, for the blue fluid sustained both equally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s edge lay in centuries of combat experience: countless techniques, patterns, and tricks Pei Ye had never heard of, never seen, never even imagined. He was constantly caught off-guard, relying solely on reflexes to mitigate damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as the battle dragged on, the old man’s repertoire dwindled, and Pei Ye’s defenses grew tighter. Now Pei Ye’s superior reflexes came to the fore—the old man began to falter, struggling to keep up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, accumulated small losses and minor openings culminated in a single, full-force punch that slammed squarely into the old man’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lean, short body flew several zhang and crashed heavily to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome was decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man lay still, no longer rising to resist. He gasped twice, then rasped his first words: “Good skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye smiled. To have fought such a duel here, he was deeply satisfied—and had no desire to further humiliate or harm his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward slowly, gathering power in his fist, aiming for the old man’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly—an unexpected change!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s fallen body snapped up like a striking venomous snake, his hand flashing a pale, razor-sharp blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye had anticipated deception after enduring so many tricks—but the finely honed iron shard aimed straight at his throat was utterly unforeseen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the split second before death, the black chi, watching closely, activated the Qunshou Talisman for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All things stilled. Pei Ye tilted his head aside, then punched—shattering the old man’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small iron shard fell. Pei Ye caught it silently, slipping it into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying a weapon clearly violated the rules. The old man’s faith must have been insufficient. Had he hidden this shard to survive two more rounds? Or to strike someone in the final stage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye could never know now. Beyond the flame curtain, the black-robed figure could not see the details, and Pei Ye would not report this “unbeliever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, this defilement of the ritual’s purity had simply passed from one “unbeliever” to another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tentacles from his abdomen lashed out—again feasting, again ascending in rank, again surging with power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only two rounds remained. If he was to execute his plan, he must act in the next round. But if he waited for Zhu Gaoyang, he must simply win this next round as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye stepped out of the arena, when suddenly a roaring wind tore through the sky—a massive creature flapping its wings. He looked up and saw two tiny golden points flash across the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiongqi had returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the cave, only a handful remained. All were silent, except Zhang Siche.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Took you long enough. I was starting to think you were done for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Almost.” Pei Ye secretly tucked the iron shard behind his waist. “If we each win one more round, it’ll be just us two left for the final.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Zhang Siche sighed, then whispered through telepathy: “I thought about it. I’ll give you the artifact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think: Zhu Gaoyang already knows me—he’ll take me with him. But he doesn’t know you. At that critical moment, how could I possibly tell him to take one more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if you use the artifact, you reveal yourself—he won’t miss you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry about me. I’ve thought of a brilliant plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>",1203,"2026-06-20T13:17:09.438Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c8b9f48ec33bea08438d46d64b44eb1dded310efc4cad26d736968d4b03190ee","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-46","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-44",771,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-immortal-food-cover.jpg"]